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6 - The Canadian Champion, Fniday, December 12, 2003 <~ OMMENT THE CAAwtzv CMIMIPoN Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Tie Canadien Champion, published eveny Tuenday and Friday at 191 Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Main St. E., Milon, Ont., LIT 4N19 (Box 248), is one of The Metraland Printint, Pablishint & Dintrjbatint Lad. snnap of sabanhan cnmpanian whicti ~ 41inicladan: Aax/Pickering News Adaadtinan, Allintan Hanald/Cnarian, Bannae (905)8 7 8' -2 3 4 Advance. Bolten Entenpnisa, Bnamptnn Guardian, Banlintnn Pnnt, Bunlingtan Shopping News, City Panant, City of Ynnk tadian, Cnllingwnnd/Wanata Connactinn, Eant Yonk Mmiro, Erin AdnncateJCoantny Ronutes, Etabicake Editorial Fax: 905-8784943 Guandian, FIambnnnagh Renjew, Fnneven Yongn, Genrgetnwn Independent/Acton Free Press, Haltan Bsinass Timas, Hamnnia Business Adverlising Fax: 905-876-2364 'rimes, Lindsay This Week, Mankham Ecanamist & tan, Midland/Penetang- Classified: 905-875-3300 anMiau New,MitontnGidsag awy News,~ Newaialetrr Circulation: 905-878-5947 tEn-Bannan, Niorthumberland Niewn, NorthYork Mio, Oaanitie Beanen, Oakville Shapping News, Oldaimena Hockey News, Orillia Tnday, Ian Oliver Publisher Oshawalithithy/Claringtonnlt Pery This WaakPterboroughThis Week, Neil Oliver Associate Publisher Minent, tnuffnille/Uxbnidga Tribtune. JiiiDavs Edtorin-Cief Advantisins in acceptad an the conditian Chat, in the avent af a typt- JiliDavs Edaorin-Csefgraphical ennan, that pnrtion ot the adnedtinint spaca nccapiad by the aea- Karen Smith Editor nenan item, tagatltan wdle a îtastnable allawance tor signatue, wiIl naot be chaîged tan, but the balancenoftChe adnertisement will ba paid for at the appli- Wendy McNab Advernising Manager cable rate. The tablishen nanamves tha îigt toI categorize adnedtisements an Charlene Hall Circulation Manager decline. Teri Casas Office Manager Tino Coles Production Manager 7Ie Mottn Canadien Ctaaattal Ia Reapatabtie Pheadaca Issue has two sides We suspected Tlhe Champion's decision 10 publish namnet of motorists charged by Halton Regional Police with alcohol-relat- ed offences would flot sit well with somne residents. We were night. Evert before publishing a single namne of somecone charged during the sessonal RIDE program, we have already received tomne criticism. At The Champion, we strive to informn, educate and occasionally help support the push for social change. While no one could argue that Canada's laws related to operatoqg motor vehicles under thse influence of alcohol are the toughest in our nation's history, far too many people stili don't get the message. Despite the threat of fines, loss of driver's licences and highly-publicized prograrros such as RIDE as deterrents to Ibis anti- social behaviour, supposedly responsible aduits insist on mixing driving with thir dsinking. Provincial statistics suggest that one in four trafflc fatalities in Ontario each year resuits fromn an alcohol-related collision. That represents about 200 fanilies who will have lost a loved one this year due to an easily-preventable act. Accidents ceaae to, be accidenta when one of the motorists involved choosesto1i gel lehind the wheel after drinking. Mont of us know better, but far too many StÛR don't get it. Idcentifying an accused before their day in court may not seero thse fair thing to do in a society thait values the presumption ofinno- cence, but il isn't exactly a groundbreaking move either. The Champion routinely namnes those charged in connection wi th murder, sexual assault and major drug and fraud cases and rarely docs anyone cail up or wvrite in to protest that practise. Those cases are foliowed up in court, and in keep- ing with that, we wiil publish news of any conflrmed acquittals that resuit from the impaired driving charges. We believe the impact on familles of the innocent women, men and children kilied by drnk drivers each year is far more immediate, devastating and lasting than a naine printed in a paper. We're flot so naive to think that publlsh- ing namnes will niiraculously end this seri- ous societal problero. However, if by doing so more motorists opt toi grab a cab or get a sober friend or loved one to drive thero home, we don't mmnd being exposed 10i a littie criticisin. OUR READERS WRITE Traffic situation at Childs Drive and Ontario Street needs to be addressed and corrected, says reader Dear Editor: This letter is in reaponse 10 recent letters toi the editor about potential traffic hazards, speciflcally at Childs Drive and Ontario Street. The long intervals between traffic light changes at this intersection, outside of rush hour, needa bo be addressed. I complained 10 the authorities at Town Hall tome time ago, and they referred me to the regional traffic dapartmnent. I ws bold the staff was responsible for altering - where deemed neces- sary - trafflc lights in fise region. I waa informed. that traffic light changes were essentially decter- mined by fine turne of day. For instance, during peak rush hours, Ontario Street traffic has prece- dence, and understandably so. However, in my opinion trafflc lighta should be programmed 10 change more frequently i side streets outside of rush hour. There are trafflc devices avail- able, as I understand, and are oper- ational in tome urban coonmunities and are viewed by thse motoring public wishing te, exil a side Street. They're electronically designed 10 change lighta as frequently as traffic build-ups on a side Street occur. They're able 10 monitor the numnber of vehicles awalting light changes on these sida strçets. If three or more vehicles, for example, are backed up onl a aida Street like Childs Drive, the lights will change shostly thereafter. Lights will then automatically change back 1oi enable trafflc on the main thorougbfare 10 proceed until the next regular change occurs. I believe changes are nceded sooner dha later. Why this unnec- essary delay? Trafflc volume in Milton in evidently on the increase, making these changes urgent. J. Kenyon Cabot Tral Give yourself a break - shop downtown Milton When il comes 10 Christmoas shopping, 1 must confets - I often fmnd myneif aw the dreaded shopping mail just days before December 25. I find myseif one of thousanda of frustrated shoppers jostling; b gel to the right alsle and wait- ing in torturous line-ups, often with a gift I know will gel hatle more than a half-hearted "Gee, thanks." Thats after rve managed to secure a parking space, somnething that could be an entire column in itself. ThiS year, rin doing thinga differently. Fmn using my lunch hour to once again browse flsrough ail the charming downtown Milton shops I Ioved visiting when I first started working here. And rve found rve been able 1oi scratch almost everyone off my list. I realize sometimes ils easy to take for granted wbat we have here, so sometimes I make a con- scion effort ta see Milton ths'ough fise eyes of a tourist. An rve re-diacovered, the shops downtown are fuM of unique gifla - particularly for the women on my list, wifls all the home decor nhops. You can't rush Main Street shopping. It just docsn't do the area justice. You have 1oi walk slowly, noticing every Christmas light in the win- dow and savouring every wafting scent froo fise cafés and restaurants. Here's my idea of a grewt couple of hours spent shopping downtown. First, head to my ail-turne favourite home décor shop, Pickets and Prionrose, juat east of Main and Martin streets. The shopowners are always up for a chat, and the store carnies a great selection of antique and shabby chic fumiture, piliows, lamnps and more. A wamning - this is a dangeroos store to lit for Christmnas shopping because you just may f ind yourself keeping everything; you intend- fashioned teddy bears. Just today I walked into Baba's Attic across from the Champion office. Whwt a hidden gem if you're into acouring for that one-of-a-kind item like a crystal candelabra or toile table covering. 5 'IrA round For a meaningful gift, the Gospel Lighthouse, beside Knox Presbyterian Cburch, offers plenty of books, CDn and gift itemnsto remindus ofthe to n true meaning of Christmas. a riFm sure you'll finti a few more stores you'll have 10i peruse in between thse ones Fve recoin- ed 10 give. mended. JusI across the Street in the Carniage Square To end your shopping spree, visit Espress plaza, youll find A Country Mile, which bas a Yourself Caffé, just west of Main and Martin million lilfie doo-dads for jusl about anyone on streets, for a coffee or piece of cake. If youre your list (okay, maybe flot fine men). Tlhe sineli lucky, the coffee flavour brewing will be Maple inside is heavenly. Theres alwsys somnething Cream or RaspbeoTy Chocolate. This is a cozy new, which means lin there nearly every week, cafe with asEuropean atroosphere - the perfect and there youll flnd the greatest selection of old- way to end your day as a tourist. E-mail a# of your Jetters to the editôr toi mittoned0haitonsearch.com.